Norman Seager Stacpoole Batchelor was born on 2 January 1905, the son of  Major Harry Stacpoole Batchelor (Manager of the Royal Exchange Insurance Company in Christchurch) and Ethel Wilson Batchelor (nee Seagar). Norman had an older sister, Esther and two younger brothers, Edward (Harvey) and Geoffrey. Norman’s mother was involved with the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association and was Vice President and President of the Hinemoa Ladies Swimming Club in Christchurch.

Norman attended Christ’s College becoming a member of the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club and Royal Life-Saving Society. In 1918 was awarded a Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society for rescuing a man from drowning at New Brighton. (He later rescued his younger brother Edward from the surf at South Brighton in 1924).

Batchelor became the Canterbury Junior Schoolboys Swimming Champion in 1919 and then New Zealand champion under the coaching of Carl Atkinson in 1921 and 1924. By 1926, Norman had won 33 championship races out of 49 starts. Besides the 33 actual wins, he came second on 12 occasions. Under medical advice he retired from championship contests that year.

Norman married Thelma Spence Thompson in 1927, with whom he had a daughter (Sally) and a son (Michael). A Traffic Inspector in his working life, he enlisted in World War 2 and served as a Sergeant in the 2nd NZ Provost Company, Corps of N.Z. Military Police.

A Life Member of New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, he was a swimming referee at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Norman continued to be of service to the community and became President of the Tauranga Bowling Club as well as being involved in swimming. He died on 16 August 1990 in Tauranga at the age of 85.

Picture: Norman Batchelor, centre, 1920 New Zealand 100 and 220 yards champion.